Slot Rankings - How Wide Receivers Score More Touchdowns in the Slot
Slot machines operate exactly the same way every game, so you won't be able to find any secret hacks to beat them. There are a few tricks that you can apply to increase your chances of winning.
Take a look at the RTP of a particular game first. This statistic shows how much players can expect to win in the long-term.
Slot Efficiency
Slot efficiency is the goal of maximising the number of slot switches that can be constructed while avoiding the violation of certain constraints. These constraints typically include the minimal operational delay (usually expressed in terms of scheduling delays), fairness and equity access and competition, environmental goals and many more. The process of distributing slots can be complex, and optimizing it in order to meet the desired performance metrics requires a careful examination of the factors involved.
The process begins by identifying the kinds of requests to prioritize in accordance with the past experience. Once the type of request is identified and a slot allocation model is used to reduce the delay criterion. A number of research gaps have been identified in relation to the slot scheduling models that optimize, particularly when trying to balance fairness and efficiency.
A common method of prioritizing slot assignments is the ABC (assigned by velocity) strategy, which collects item history data and determines the velocity group. Items with the highest speed are given the best slots in the warehouse, while those with lower speeds are assigned to the back.
The distance factor is a crucial element in the slot's efficiency. It determines the amount of space required to facilitate the pick-to-ship process. The measure considers the speed group, racking locations and the characteristics of handling equipment of the items.
To improve the efficiency of slot machines, it is also important to consider the cost of a given slot change. A quick analysis of the typical slot changes can aid managers in determining the cost associated with the change, as well as the impact it could have on other aspects of slot efficiency, like velocity.
After a couple of months validating the data, and re-evaluating the recommendations, the casino started using the system more often. The gaming operations team estimates that they will save between 10 and 12 hours per month on their traditional analyses and this doesn't include time spent reviewing the customer-rated data or developing and analyzing new strategies that can be implemented.
Using the new suggestions from SRE the team was able to come up with dozens of game change suggestions which increased revenue for players. Particularly, Dancing Drums Explosion and Twinstar Wave XL, both from Scientific Games, saw big increases in the premium lease and WAP rankings. The casino was also able to shift its budget away from marketing to other expenses and increase floor performance.
Perimeter Efficiency
We all know that wide receivers are more likely to score more touchdowns on perimeter targets than slot targets because they're often targeted farther downfield and are often faced with one-on-one coverage. What might be surprising to some is the distinction between the top five slot receivers and the rest of them in terms of scoring on these targets that are located in the perimeter.
Of the 66 wide receivers who have been on at least 40 targets the past two seasons, the top five slot scorers on perimeter routes were all speed receivers: Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett and Michael Gallup. The bottom of this list is dominated by receivers who are more possession-based, such as Chris Godwin and Diontae Johnston. The two latter two are likely to see a boost in their targets this season if the Bucs move them into the slot more often however they'll need to improve their perimeter scoring to keep that high level.
Speedy wideouts are the biggest beneficiaries of moving into the slot, since they have an easier time getting open in the field when their route isn't covered by a cornerback or linebacker. Corey Coleman is the only wide receiver who's not a speedy wideout, but could benefit from more slot time. He's a good player for intermediate and short routes.
The last spot on the list includes more possession-based receivers who are better on short and intermediate routes than in deep areas such as Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Jeudy is a solid choice for a sleeper this year, as he'll be the primary slot receiver for the Rams while Courtland Sutton and Amari Cooper are expected to be involved in more downfield targets. Hamler, meanwhile, should be a natural on short-to-mid-long and intermediate routes, since this is where he was at his best when playing for the Bills in 2021. Hamler could be a fantastic replacement for the departed wideout Jordan Matthews.
Percentage of Snaps in the Slot
The percentage of snaps that a receiver makes in the slot can be a good indicator of their ability to run routes that are deep. However, it's not always a true representation of a receiver's skills because some receivers excel in the slot but cannot play deep, and vice versa.
For top casino slots For instance, the Eagles' Alshon Jeffery leads the league in the number of targets per game (4.8) but is sixth in the slot receiving score (58.5). This is due to the fact that the majority of his targets been thrown from the outside and it is difficult to get a first down on a wide-open deep route in this setting.
Some receivers are better at playing inside, whereas others struggle on the outside. Robby Anderson, for instance, was given 978 snaps by the Panthers this season. He logged 74% of his routes in the slot, as opposed to only 26% on boundary routes. This is a huge difference and shows just how much more productive Robby Anderson is when aligned to the slot.
Chris Godwin, a Buccaneers player, plays inside the majority of his passing downs and has one of the top five slot receiving scores (58.5). However he also played 51 percent of his perimeter routes in the last season and is a top performer in one-on-one coverage.
Speed receivers are more efficient when they align inside. They are able to be targeted further down the field, and often face one-on-1 coverage. This is why you'll find names like Julio Jones, Mike Evans and Amari Cooper in the top five of our list.
McDuffie, Moore and other slot cornerbacks also belong to this group. Both have been able create pressures in the pass game, with McDuffie leading the NFL with seven forced fumbles, and Moore having the best tackle stop performance on this list (-3.5). Through using McDuffie in the slot when they are running nickel or dime packages, and then placing McDuffie on the outside in base defense, Spagnuolo has maximized his abilities. In addition, Moore's capability to stop big run plays has been an enormous asset when playing in the slot.
Percentage of Snaps Outside
While top NFL receivers such as Golden Tate, Larry Fitzgerald and Baldwin excel on the perimeter, their slot counterparts are equally good. As a group wide receivers with a high slot receiving grade score touchdowns roughly at the same amount as those who are on the edge. This is due to the fact that quarterbacks are more consistent in their targets when they throw to outside and slot wide receivers, as opposed to other inside options like tight ends and backfield passers.
It's therefore fascinating to see a player like CeeDee lamb on this list for 2022. He plays the slot in 3 WR sets, and flanker in 2 of them. In fact the slot receiver is running a higher number of slot routes than the majority of players on this chart. This is a great way to create matchup benefits for your team and clarify why Lamb ranks as the highest-graded slot receiver in our system this season.
Of course, he also plays the X position, and makes some big plays on the perimeter, too. Lamb isn't as explosive as the other players in this ranking however he's still a high-graded wide receiver who fits well into the Cowboys scheme.
Mecole Hardman is yet another example of a player who's capable of putting up huge numbers on both types of targets. He has a high slot receiving rating and is among the league's top players at catching back-shoulder throws but he's also an excellent opponent for contested catch.
Jalen Hilton is another player who is a slot specialist. He's lined up in this position on 85.7 percent his defensive snaps to date. He has the third-lowest EPA for targets, and the fifth-best EPA for runs stopped among cornerbacks in the slot. This makes him a valuable player in the defensive unit. He's had a difficult time stopping passes from the outside and his EPA against this kind of target is negative. This has been a result of playing alongside poor linebackers and safeties who can't match up with Hilton's size and speed, as well as his route-running abilities.